In 2009, a huge outpouring of emotions overtook Anchorage's Loussac Library, as the Anchorage Assembly debated a proposed change in discrimination law, which would have added "sexual orientation" to a list of classes illegal to discriminate against in Anchorage.
Now, a ballot initiative over this very issue is poised to appear on the Anchorage city ballot in April.
A group tasked with collecting more than 5,800 signatures to get that initiative on the ballot says it's already collected more than 6,000 -- and they say they're going to collect even more.
The Anchorage clerk's office has to verify all the signatures that the group "One Anchorage" has collected to put the issue on the ballot.
A new survey out last week from a group called Identity shows some data that they say proves that sexual orientation discrimination exists in Anchorage.
Among the results; 73 percent of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender respondents said they've had to hide their sexual orientation to avoid discrimination.
21 percent say they've been turned down for a job they were qualified for because of their sexual orientation, and 16 percent say they were forced to leave a job due to harassment.
Identity says they conducted the survey in response to a comment from Mayor Dan Sullivan in 2009 when he vetoed the equal rights ordinance that the assembly had passed.
"Quite frankly, I just don't think there's enough evidence to support the necessity for an ordinance," Sullivan said in 2009. "And you combine that with the overwhelming support from the community to veto it, and it made my decision pretty clear."
"We took that, and many other people's questions to heart, and Identity took it truly to heart, and they took the steps forward to do this survey," Trevor Storrs with One Anchorage said.
Mayor Dan Sullivan's office told Channel 2 that he wasn't able to accommodate an interview with us on Thursday because he hadn't read the survey yet. For the past two days, Sullivan has participated in his Education Summit, taking him out of the office.
Contact Jason Lamb at jlamb@ktuu.com
